Oil fields of the world. The largest oil field in the world
Oil is a very lady venerable age. The very first deposits of earthen oil, according to scientists, arose 600 million years ago. Then the oceans were much larger, and some modern islands were hidden under water, including the territories of countries where oil is produced today.
Where did the oil come from?
The oceans were once vibrant with the life of many plants and animals, the remains of which sank to the bottom for hundreds of millions of years. Together with the layers of the earth, they created deposits, which became more and more numerous. Under the influence of enormous pressure, a constant process of metamorphosis of organic residues into oil droplets took place. The pressure was so powerful that in some places, especially with the porous structure of the upper layers of the soil, these drops broke out and gradually created oil deposits. Oil broke out through layers of sand and lime, but layers of stones often appeared on its way, it fell into traps in which all the cavities and depressions were filled with liquid. Now the extraction of black gold in the world consists of attempts to drill wells to penetrate these huge filled cavities.
How are oil fields structured?
Huge oil fields, such as those in the Middle East, lie under large rock domes where the oil accumulates. Deposits on the European continent are huge salt domes that push powerful stone slabs upward, as a result, oil fills the formed cavities.
Oil consumption
The world as we know it would be completely different if there were no oil. It’s even hard to imagine how many everyday things are created from it. Synthetic fibers that make up clothing, all plastic used in everyday life and industry, medicines, cosmetics - all this is created from oil.
Almost half of the energy consumed by humanity is produced from earth oil. It is consumed by aircraft engines, as well as almost all vehicles in the world. Oil is also burned to produce electric current. The electricity produced powers industrial machines and is the basis of daily life in the industrial world.
Black gold deposits
The Middle East comes first Arab countries and Iran, meets almost half of the world's oil demand. There are also large oil fields in Russia, the USA, African countries, for example, in Nigeria, as well as in North America. Huge deposits have been found in other places, but their development requires large financial costs and is accompanied by technical difficulties.
In the world it began in the USA. The first oil source was discovered in the USA in 1859. Oil bubbled up from a depth of 21 meters. The drilling method at that time was extremely simple: a heavy chisel was suspended in a wooden drilling tower, which continuously crashed noisily into the ground and broke stones. The first offshore drilling rig was built in 1900 on the California coast.
New volumes of oil production in the world may be hidden under deserts or swamps, under the seabed or boulders Antarctic ice, behind the terrain it is difficult to recognize what is located deep below, in the bowels of the earth. Therefore, the search for new oil deposits is extremely difficult and requires enormous financial expenses.
Reserve and production of black gold
Oil production in the world is not an endless process. Taking into account existing estimates, at the current level of production, its global geological reserves will be enough at least for 46 years, including Saudi Arabia- for 72 years, Iran - 88, Iraq - 128, Venezuela - 234, Libya - 77, Kuwait - 111, UAE - 94, Russia - 21, China - 10, USA - 11 years.
Oil production in the world (the table clearly shows this) is characterized by the TOP-10 champion countries.
Countries | Volume of oil production, billion barrels per year |
||
Saudi Arabia | 4,22 | ||
Russia | |||
USA | 3,65 | ||
China | 1,53 | ||
Canada | 1,41 | ||
Iran | 1,31 | ||
UAE | 1,17 | ||
Iraq | 1,09 | ||
Mexico | 1,07 | ||
Kuwait | 1,02 |
Oil production by country in the world different time was very different. Let's look at the history of countries that became rich in black gold.
Saudi Arabia
The leader is Saudi Arabia, its oil production in the world, the table confirms this, has made it an extremely rich state. Until 1938, the young kingdom called Saudi Arabia was one of the poorest countries in the world. In 1938, huge sources of oil were discovered in Saudi Arabia. Their development was prevented by the Second World War and work began only in 1946, and by 1949 the country’s oil industry had reached a high level. Oil became the main source of wealth and prosperity for the kingdom. Oil exports enriched the kingdom by $310 billion in 2008. The entire Saudi industry is based on oil industry. The proven oil reserves in this country today amount to about 260 billion barrels and this is equal to 24% of the proven reserves on Earth. This number of discovered oil deposits is growing steadily. Currently, Saudi Arabia is rightfully considered richest country in the world.
Iran
The second largest black gold mine in the world is Islamic Republic Iran. Iran is a state that lives off oil exports. Thanks to new discoveries, the country is further cementing its status as an oil giant. Just recently, a gigantic oil reserve with reserves of 15 billion barrels was discovered in Iran.
Kuwait
Kuwait takes third place. Thanks to oil production, the state became rich: in the 70-80s, exports made the country the richest in the world. But in the 90s it's complicated political situation caused disruptions in import supplies. The Iraqi invasion almost devastated the country and destroyed its former wealth. But for last years the state quickly returns to its previous level. Currently, Kuwait has significant oil deposits, about 102 billion barrels, which is 9% of all world reserves. The main share, about 95% of export revenues, comes from oil and petroleum products.
Let's look into the future
Nowadays, oil reigns everywhere. No other form can yet replace it as a source of energy. Annual world oil production is about 4.4 billion tons. It is predicted that at the current level of consumption, its reserves will be sufficient (from known deposits) until 2025. If the volume of oil production in the world decreases and new sources are discovered, the earth's oil in the depths of the earth can be extended for 150 - 1000 years. This is too small on a planetary scale. Nature needs 200 million years to create this mineral, and the current generation wastes it in a millionth period of time, that is, it behaves as if after it human civilization will disappear.
Sooner or later, humanity must change the way of life, manage oil sources wisely or look for other alternative sources of energy. According to many experts, the picture of the future is as follows: oil reserves will be used primarily for raw materials chemical industry for the production of plastics, medicines and other high-quality products. Vehicles, cars, trucks or airplanes will be powered by hydrogen. Electrical and thermal energy will be produced from alternative renewable sources such as wind, solar and water. All that remains is to take care of what we have and wait for the future.
Despite the constant search for alternative energy sources, oil is still the main fuel resource on the planet.
The economy of many countries is based on oil exports, some states have developed to high level only thanks to the extraction of this mineral.
It was originally used as construction material and only over time they discovered their flammable properties, which are still valued to this day.
Where is the most oil?
This mineral is not mined everywhere. If you look at the world map, the most oil is produced in Saudi Arabia, followed by Russia, and the United States in third place.
If we turn to the nature of the occurrence of this resource, then there are oil and gas basins, that is, underground layers from where oil and.
Here are some of the largest:
- Persian Gulf.
- Sahara.
- Alaska.
- Gulf of Mexico.
The largest oil reserves are following countries:
- Venezuela (21% of world reserves).
- Saudi Arabia (19% of world reserves).
- Iran (9.5% of world reserves).
- Iraq (8.1% of world reserves).
- Kuwait (7.1% of world reserves).
Major oil fields
It is worth noting that the information on how many years the oil reserves in a particular field will last is correct, provided that oil is produced annually in the volume in which this is happening now. At the same time, the speed of technology development does not stand still, and new equipment makes it possible to increase the production rate every year.
The largest oil fields in the world are as follows:
Rumaila
Refers to the oil and gas basin Persian Gulf. Located in Iraq near the city of Basra. Oil reserves – 5.4 billion tons, will run out in 75 years. 70 million tons per year are mined annually.
Production method: waterflooding, i.e. intra-formational pressure is maintained by pumping water inside.
Al Ghawar
It belongs to the oil and gas basin of the Persian Gulf and is the largest developed oil field in the world.
About 7% of global production is produced per day from this field. Location: Saudi Arabia, near the city of Dhahran.
The reserve will run out in 38 years, a total of 9.5 billion tons. 250 million tons are mined per year. It is produced by flooding.
Kashagan
Of the largest oil fields, this was one of the most recent to be discovered - in 2000.. It is located on the shelf of the Caspian Sea and is the largest offshore field. Located in Kazakhstan, near the city of Atyrau. The deposit totals 4.8 billion tons. By technical reasons oil from this field in this moment not mined. From 2016, it is planned to produce 25 million tons of oil per year, and over time, increase this number to 100 million tons per year. With an average production volume of 50 million tons per year, it will end in 80 years.
Greater Burgan
This field alone produces 5% of world oil production. Located in Kuwait City, south of Kuwait City.
This field has 13 billion tons of reserves, which will allow production for 150 years.
80 million tons are pumped out per year. Extraction method – oil well, oil gushes to the surface on its own.
Daqing
Heilongjiang Province, China. The deposit totals 6.36 billion tons, with production of 50 million tons per year, and will end in 127 years. It is produced by flooding.
Cantarel
Located in Mexico, the Bay of Campeche is projected to have 5.7 billion tons. 90 million tons are mined per year, it will end in 63 years. The extraction method is waterflooding.
Prudhoe Bay
Oil and gas basin of the North Slope of Alaska, USA. The reserve is 3.1 billion tons, 13 million tons are mined annually. Mining will cease in 230 years. Production method - flooding using sea water.
Aghajari
Persian oil and gas basin, the state of Iran. The deposit has a capacity of 1.9 billion tons, with an annual production of 40 million tons, and will end in 47 years. It is extracted from a well.
Hassi-Messaoud
Sahara-Libyan oil and gas basin, Algeria city of Ouargla. Reserves – 2.4 billion tons, extracted from wells. With annual production of 22 million tons, it will end in 109 years.
Samotlor field
The Samotlor field ranks 6th in the world and is the largest in Russia in terms of oil production. Located in Russia in Nizhnevartovsk. The reserve is 7.1 billion tons, with annual production being 22 million tons. Production method: mechanized, maintaining reservoir pressure. It will end in 320 years.
Scientists have calculated that by the middle of the 21st century, half of all the oil lying in the bowels of the Earth will be extracted.
One way to extend the period of use oil reserves Land is their economy. How to calculate the amount of fuel for a car, read the link.
In the United States, in an attempt to delay the fuel crisis, they are pumping extracted oil into underground reservoirs, but this measure will not help for long.
In 2014, Russia carried out exploration and discovered a new rich field in the Kara Sea, which in terms of reserves exceeds the volume of Saudi Arabia. And in the same year the Astrakhan field was discovered.
The price of oil will constantly rise, all decreases will be temporary.
At the same time, many scientists are working on the use of various alternative energy sources. We can only hope that when all the oil fields are depleted, an equivalent replacement will be invented.
The media published a selection of the ten largest oil fields in the world, where the top three were Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
So, first place was given to Chicontepec. This is a super-giant oil and gas field in Mexico, located at east coast Mexico. Discovered in 1926. The area of the deposit is 4 thousand square meters. km, it includes the territories of three states - Veracruz, Hidalgo and Puebla. Total modern reserves of the resource range from 19 billion to 22 billion tons. Also in Chicontepec huge reserves gas According to experts, somewhere around 1 trillion square meters. m.
The second position is occupied by the giant field in Saudi Arabia, one of the largest oil and gas fields in the world, located in the Persian Gulf basin.
Measuring 280 km by 30 km, it is the largest producing oil field in the world. It was opened almost immediately after the end of World War II in 1948.
Greater Burgan is a group of oil fields in Kuwait that contains more than 5% of the world's proven recoverable oil reserves. Includes three deposits (Burgan, Ahmadi, Magwa). Located in the desert in the south of Kuwait. The field contains more than 75% of Kuwait's proven oil reserves. Its area is 920 sq. km. Geological oil reserves are estimated at 13 billion tons. Oil production in Burgan began in 1946.
The fourth position is a field in the Atlantic Ocean 200 km south of Rio de Janeiro. The official date of its discovery is July 17, 2008. The Brazilian government divided this field into 4 blocks: BM S 8, BM S 9, BM S 21, BM S 22. Geological reserves of the field called Carioca Pan de Azucar are estimated at 70 billion barrels, or 11 billion tons of oil, of which recoverable reserves are up to 5.7 billion tons of oil.
Zakum - supergiant oil deposit UAE, located in the Persian Gulf. In 1965, Lower Zakum was opened, and in 1967, Upper Zakum.
Geological reserves of the field are estimated at 65.6 billion barrels, or 10.7 billion tons of oil. Of these, in Upper - 8.2 billion tons, in Nizhny - 2.5 billion tons.
Safaniya Khafji is a gas and oil field in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It was discovered in 1951. Geological oil reserves are estimated at 10.35 billion tons. Also, the bowels of the earth are rich in gas in this place - 330 billion cubic meters. m.
Bolivar is a group of oil fields in Venezuela (Maracaibo Oil and Gas Basin). Includes the Lagunillas, Tia Juana, Bochaquero and other deposits. Discovered in 1917.
Samotlor is the largest oil field in Russia. Located in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug of the Tyumen Region, near Nizhnevartovsk, in the area of Lake Samotlor. According to some reports, oil reserves here amount to almost 7.1 billion tons, or 15 billion barrels. Development wildlife, and with it, oil deposits in Samotlor began in 1965; the natural resource is located at a depth of up to 2.5 km. This field is being developed by the Rosneft company.
North/South Pars is a super-giant oil and gas field, the largest in the world. It is located in the central part of the Persian Gulf in the territorial waters of Qatar (North) and Iran (South Pars). North and South Pars are separated by a tectonic fault. South Pars was discovered in 1990. It is a relatively easy to access field as it is located at shallow depths and close to shore. As a result, low production costs.
Kashagan is a large offshore oil and gas field in Kazakhstan, located 80 km from the city of Atyrau, in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. The shelf depth is 3-7 km. The field was discovered on June 30, 2000 by the Vostok-1 well. Production natural resources began only in 2013 and in the next ten years will significantly improve economic situation in Kazakhstan due to oil exports to Asian and European countries.
It is difficult to imagine the modern world without huge amount cars, planes and helicopters that help people move faster from one point globe to another. But for the smooth functioning of the transport system and not only it, fuel is needed, without which life on our planet will practically stop. Where is oil extracted, from which gasoline, kerosene and many other things are subsequently obtained, without which it is difficult to imagine our daily life. More information about the largest deposits of black gold on the planet and where they are located can be found here.
Chicontepec (Mexico)
Chicontepec is one of the largest oil fields in the entire globe in terms of reserves. Located in Mexico on the east coast of the country. The oil and gas basin belongs to the Gulf of Mexico. The field area is 4 thousand km² and includes the territories of the three states of Veracruz, Hidalgo and Puebla. Oil was found on this land back in 1926; the total modern reserves of the resource are from 19 to 22 billion. tons Also, Chicontepec has huge gas reserves, according to experts, somewhere around 1 trillion square meters.
Oil deposits are located everywhere throughout the field. Therefore, Pemex, which is developing Chicontepec reserves, decided to drill over 17 thousand wells to extract the resource in this area. Thanks to its giant deposit, Mexico ranks 4th in terms of oil reserves in the world. But does not yet receive the full benefit from its resources due to the fact that for a long time I have not been involved in developments in this direction.
Al Ghawar (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Ghawar is a super-giant or, as it is also called, a unique oil field located in Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf. According to experts, oil reserves here amount to 20 billion tons. Al-Ghawar is the largest developed black gold deposit in the world, measuring 280 by 30 km. It was opened almost immediately after the end of World War II in 1948.
Ghawar is the leader in oil production in Saudi Arabia, more than 50% of the total resource extracted in the country from its depths, and in the world as a whole, about 6% of the oil produced worldwide per day comes from here. Al-Ghawar is the breadwinner of the entire country. The field belongs to the state, and the national company Saudi Aramco is also working on its development. As reported from Saudi Aramco, Ghawar's reserves have dried up by half, and if production continues at the same volumes, the field's resource will last until the end of this century.
Greater Burgan (Kuwait)
Burgan or Greater Burgan is a unique oil field located in the south of Kuwait. Belonging to the Persian Gulf, its peculiarity is that it is entirely located in the desert sands. A third of all reserves of black gold in Kuwait are mined here; in numerical equivalent, fuel reserves amount to 13 billion tons. Oil production in Burgan began in 1946. The field is being developed by the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp. Lastly time is running modernization of oil production enterprises in Burgan, in order to maintain the pace of natural resource production. It is estimated that Greater Burgan can supply oil to consumers around the world for another half century.
Carioca Sugar Loaf (Brazil)
The oil field is located underwater Atlantic Ocean, not far from the coast of Brazil. Belongs to the Santos oil and gas basin. It was opened recently, especially when compared with others large reserves oil in the world in 2008. Resource reserves amount to 11 billion tons or 70 billion barrels black gold. Petrobras and several other companies are developing Brazilian deposits. Getting to the oil in Carioca Sugar Loaf is not so easy, you have to travel a distance of about 7 kilometers deep into the earth. The subsoil with fuel is located under a thickness of five kilometers of earth, and above them there is another two kilometers of myrrh ocean. Carioca's reserves are capable of meeting Brazil's fuel needs for several hundred years.
Safaniya Khafji (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait)
The field is located in the waters of the Persian Gulf, and is located on the territory owned by two Arab states Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Oil was first discovered under the water and earth here in 1951. Natural resource reserves amount to about 10.5 billion tons or 30 billion barrels. Also, the bowels of the earth are rich in gas in this place - 330 billion cubic meters. The extraction of natural resources in Safaniya Khafji is carried out by the Arabian company Saudi Aramco and the Kuwaiti company Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
Bolivar (Venezuela)
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Several deposits are located on the territory of Lake Maracaibo, which in Venezuela is called the Bolivar shelf. These fuel deposits were discovered back in 1917. Today, according to expert estimates, oil reserves here are somewhere in the area 8.3 billion tons or 32 billion barrels. The development and extraction of resources on the Bolivar shelf is carried out by the company Petroleos de Venezuela; it works at a depth of up to five kilometers, extracting a valuable resource from the ground, and then selling it to all countries of South America.
Al Zakum (UAE)
Al-Zakum combines the Lower and Upper Zakum oil fields located in the United United Arab Emirates. They belong to the richest oil basin - the Persian. Oil deposits were discovered in them almost simultaneously in 1965 in Nizhny, and two years later in Upper Zakum. Total reserves amount to 10.7 billion tons fuel. Mining is carried out by ADNOC. Natural resource deposits allow several more generations in the UAE to look forward to a prosperous future.
Samotlorskoye (Russia)
Europe's largest oil field is, not surprisingly, located in Russia. And to be more precise, in the swamps of Lake Samotlor in western Siberia Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. According to some reports, oil reserves here amount to almost 7.1 billion tons or 15 billion barrels. The development of the wild nature, and with it the oil deposits in Samotlor, began in 1965; the natural resource is located at a depth of up to 2.5 km. This field is being developed by the national company Rosneft. Recently made a decision to drill about 600 new wells for oil production in the Samotlor field. Interesting fact until recently, on cards issued in Russian Federation oil deposits of Samotlor were not identified.
North/South Pars (Qatar, Iran)
Oil and gas field located in the territorial waters of Qatar and Iran. In the bowels of the earth is located about 7 billion tons of oil and it’s hard to even imagine 28 trillion cubic meters natural gas. This field has been developed relatively recently since 1991. Today, the main oil producing companies here are Qatar Gaz and Petropars. The oil and gas produced by these companies in the depths of the two Parses is sent to European countries and India, bringing huge profits to the budgets of Qatar and Iran.
Kashagan (Kazakhstan)
The Kashagan field was discovered in 2000 and is located in the Caspian Sea. The basin belongs to the Caspian depression. The largest oil field in the world is on the lake. Fuel reserves are approximately 6.4 billion tons or about 40 billion. barrels. The extraction of natural resources began only in 2013 and in the next ten years will significantly improve the economic situation in Kazakhstan through oil exports to Asian and European countries. Work on oil production in Kashagan is carried out by a joint company called NCOC, in which the Japanese, Chinese, British, Dutch, Americans, French, Italians and Kazakh partners have various shares. Experts expect that when the work is fully established, Kazakhstan will break into the elite of oil-producing countries in the world.
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